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10 TED Videos On Leading a Gracious & Thoughtful Way of Life

Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals. Self awareness is also about having a clear perception of our personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions. Although, it is often cited to be an important factor to effective leadership, it is also ironically lacking in leaders during moments of crisis. We are not super beings, and being absolutely in control of one’s consciousness is not a norm. Unlike self-denial, where there is a lack of self awareness, there is no knowledge to reject. ViTRINE picked a few of our favourite video clips from TED on interesting insights shared by experts in the world. Some videos are based on personal experience whilst others are based on scientific facts but they all reveal the complex and intricate nature of human beings and why constructing a compassionate and caring society, albeit obviously enticing and justified, may not be a simple task based solely on good will and moral vigor.

It’s a Strange World

Michael Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things — from alien abductions to dowsing rods — boils down to two of the brain’s most basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are, and how they get us into trouble.

A Kinder Success and a Gentler Failure

Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure — and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. His eloquent, witty talk may perhaps encourage us to pave an enlightened path for our younger generation, allowing them to enjoy successes in a kinder manner and to take a gentler fall when they fail.

Ugly is an Ugly Word

About 10,000 people a month Google the phrase, “Am I ugly?” Meaghan Ramsey of the Dove Self-Esteem Project has a feeling that many of them are young girls. In a deeply unsettling talk, she walks us through the surprising impacts of low body and image confidence—from lower grade point averages to greater risk-taking with drugs and alcohol. She then shares the keys things all of us can to disrupt this reality.

Vulnerability Runs the World

Brene Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. Vulnerability is the new strength needed to run our geopolitical world riddled with religious and ideological dogmas

Puzzling Unmotivated?

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don’t: Traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories — and maybe, a way forward.

Human Judgement: A Gift & Its Limitation

Sensing the motives and feelings of others is a natural talent for humans. But how do we do it? Here, Rebecca Saxe shares fascinating lab work that uncovers how the brain thinks about other peoples’ thoughts.

Listen to the Unsaid

“We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don’t,” says poet and teacher Clint Smith. A short, powerful piece from the heart, about finding the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice.

Your Belief, My Conviction, Our Control

Noah Feldman makes a searing case that both politics and religion — whatever their differences — are similar technologies, designed to efficiently connect and manage any group of people.